Debran Rowland -- "aids Name Quilt Is Reminder To All." (chicago Tribune, 10/08/90)

A11)s name quilt .is reminder to all

Names Project stops off in Chicago By Debran Rowland

Irene Bush smiles . as she ex'pLaW

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the dctaiIJ of her husband Thommic's life. "He was just such a woodcrfu.l person and JO aative that I tried to include all of that in this pand," she: said., p:sturina toward a 3-by~ foot pic:o: of doth ban&in& 00 a McCormick Pla.~ wall. 00 it a silbouctte of a man with a microphone waves bcnc:ath a cluster of

stan.

It is

of some 1.900 panels acatcd by the wives, families and mends of people who died ' of AIDS as part of the Names Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. whicb has been on display in C'bicaio and fout otbcr ODC:

cities.. Bush said her husband was a singer and a cIana:r who had performed on Broadwzy for yean before re-

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AlthouJll be bad beeopy for years. the two married in 1987 because they fell in love, Bush said. "!twas just something that happened. We had been friends for

yean.. .. Hci husband died July 14, but Bush said she ~ she would .make a paDd Jooe before thc:n. "When you walk around tbis room aDd loot at some of tbc:se paocis. wbat ~ is that we are Iosioc aD entire p:ncr.ujon of extIcmcIy acative and walted peoPic... . . said. -nris quilt and tbc:se pands arc a way for the people who loved ~ who died of AIDS to

ream

Bndley's life. "I remember him every day," he said. ~Sooner or later, this whole thing (AlDS] is going to affect everybody. This quilt makes everyone more aware:." For Kim Jones of Chicago . viewini the quilt is I.ik.c visiting a huge graveyard for forgotten pe0ple. Unlike many other visitors, J ones said she has not lost a close friend to AlDS. ..[ just wanted to pay my respects to people wbo died 0 f AIDS .... she said. swing down at a colorful panel with a rainbow rising out of a cloud. Beneath in silver lecters the notacion, "Tncy-1956-1988" is carefully

stitched.

Jeanne Dencon and her busband, Jim. goc their. family involved in making a p&oei for her brother. Jody. who died of AlDS On May 22. For the family and Jody' , C1regiver. John Stevenson , creating the panel began cbe healing prQCeU, Denton said. "We live in a Christian commuaity . U1d ilie wbole community got involved with t.alcing care of my brother." w said. In ~tiOQ to rai.sin& the public

consciou.sness about AIDS, organizers and volunteers for the Nounes Project say they hope administrators will begin to view ilie quilt as an artistic vehicle teachers can u.sc to educate young pciJple. about AIDS.

pay tribute. .. -We have some schools coming 0IIJy ooc-6fth of the quilt is on display at Mc:Comric:k ~ Otber in tomorrow," said Gem Spinella, volunteer for the Namcs Project 3CICci.oos a'tI 011 ab:ibit in Houston:. aaod a Deerfield junior high school Adanra. l.oI ~ and W:ubiIli- tcacber. - ADd I would lU;e to see ton. ~cichioc about 14 toIlS, the more of that, becawc education iJ entire quilt stretches four miles. Tbcrc arc more !:ban 12.(XX) pmeIs what is loing to heip ~ other people from ~ AIDS. from 22 <XlUIlaic:s. All five c:xhibia will dose Monday Not all of the paoels were ereaisbc. then the quilt 3el7""""D will aced by loved oncs. One yOUDt be shipped to San FraocUco for woman spent the la.st days of bC1' stOrlie until they ate shown apin. life aW:lng a palld for bend! On DaneU LafoUene made the trip it lbe .... rote : "The next time from Cleveland to McConnict someone S4ys .• . AIDS is a py Place. His close friend, Bradley, diseue ; [V drug abusers iet died th.iJ summer oi AIDS. Wol- • AIDS; I c:u! 't get AID5-RememIcmc said 1M iJ worlciJll on a panel bc:r Me. Cary Schwartz 195&-1989 for the quilt that be hopes will .,. I died angry ac iporant peoserve as a permanent marlcer of pie. Don ~t .bate-educate.

ft By Debran Rowland

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